Kericho Open 2023

Inside the halls of the A.C.K. Grace Conference Centre, the atmosphere hummed with the rhythmic clatter of plastic mechanisms aligning at lightning speed. Timers lit up across the tables as a dedicated assembly of 83 competitors gathered on September 16, 2023, ready to test their hands against the clock. The gathering represented a major moment for regional speedcubing, offering an energetic stage where new solvers stepped forward to challenge established talent across four competitive rounds.

The 2023 season in Kericho, Kenya showcased how rapidly up-and-coming competitors are improving their solve times across the board. Every round at Kericho Open 2023 highlighted a rising generation determined to slice fractions of a second off their previous marks. The energy inside the room reflected an evolving community, where seasoned hands and first-time entrants shared stations to push the boundaries of modern speed cubing.

Nowhere was this progress more apparent than in the classic Rubik's Cube division, which drew a massive field of 74 competitors across two rounds. When the final 3x3 results were tabulated, Mugambi Simon captured the victory with a winning average of 14.25 seconds, complemented by a best single solve of 11.76 seconds. The contest came down to the slimmest possible margin, as runner-up John Muthee Karichu finished mere hundredths behind with a 14.26 average, while Teddy Mbingo secured third place with a mark of 14.76.

John Muthee Karichu bounced back to take the spotlight in the other two categories on the schedule. In the 2x2x2 Cube event, Karichu led a field of 49 competitors by registering a first-place average of 5.31 seconds alongside an event-best single of 3.95 seconds. Teddy Mbingo placed second with a 5.46 average, narrowly edging Mugambi Simon, who claimed third with a 5.48 average and a rapid 3.49 single. Karichu then added another win in Pyraminx, outpacing 22 competitors with a 9.25 average and a 5.87 single, ahead of John Kamau with 11.50 and Kelvin Githiari Waturi with 12.64.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, the official results from this WCA competition revealed massive leaps forward from several emerging competitors. Maxwel Mutai produced one of the most remarkable jumps of the day in the main event, posting a 3x3x3 personal best of 35.96 seconds that improved on his previous mark by 48.7 percent, while also recording an 11.15 personal best in the 2x2x2 Cube, 33.2 percent faster than before, and delivering a first Pyraminx attempt of 30.27. Marc Tarus also cut his times dramatically, taking his Pyraminx personal best to 11.47 seconds, a 42.9 percent improvement, and dropping his 3x3x3 Cube best to 22.90. Felix Kiprob set new personal records of 20.07 seconds on 3x3x3, 33.1 percent faster, and 7.65 seconds on 2x2x2, finishing ninth in the three-by-three event. Meanwhile, Ryan Kiplagat Kurui posted a 34.98 personal best on 3x3x3, an improvement of 29.7 percent, and registered a Pyraminx time of 10.61.

The influx of fresh talent was equally visible among newcomers taking on their very first official cubing competition at Kericho Open 2023. Almershaldom Murimi completed three disciplines, earning fourth place in the 2x2x2 Cube with a 4.06 single and recording first attempts of 12.20 in Pyraminx and 15.07 in 3x3x3. Louis Dreyfus Aringa Odhiambo achieved a fourth-place finish in 3x3x3 Cube, putting up initial marks of 10.96 on 3x3x3, 4.91 on 2x2x2, and 8.90 on Pyraminx. Fayall Moturi Orora took sixth place in Pyraminx with an 8.47 attempt while also logging marks in 3x3x3 at 22.31 and 2x2x2 at 8.59. Sammy Kimani also tackled all three events, recording debut solves of 50.85 on 3x3x3, 21.21 on Pyraminx, and 12.40 on 2x2x2.

Across three distinct puzzle categories, the Kenyan contingent collected all nine available podium places, demonstrating robust depth across varied solving styles. Whether mastering the compact geometric turns of the 2x2x2 Cube or navigating the tetrahedrons of the Pyraminx, participants consistently delivered sharp executions under strict official timing standards.

As the tables were packed and the stopwatches reset, Kericho Open 2023 concluded as a vivid showcase of rapid technical growth and competitive determination. With dozens of newly minted personal bests and a wave of new entrants now logged in the official records, the competitors left Kericho with clear proof of their swift advancement heading into the next rounds of competitive play.